While Connecticut voters support the death penalty in general 62 - 30 percent, they are evenly
divided on the preferred punishment for a person convicted of murder, as 46 percent want the
death penalty while 46 percent want life in prison with no chance of parole, according to a
Quinnipiac University poll released today.

When half of the voters in the survey are asked if the State Legislature's decision to
abolish the death penalty is a "good idea" or "bad idea," they say "bad idea" 60 - 34 percent, the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

When the other half of voters are asked about abolishing the death penalty and replacing it
with life in prison with no chance of parole, they say "bad idea" 54 - 42 percent. Voters who
attend religious services weekly say "good idea" 50 - 46 percent. Voters who attend services less
frequently say "bad idea" 58 - 38 percent.

In deciding what to do with inmates currently on Connecticut's Death Row:

49 percent of voters say do not abolish the death penalty at all;

25 percent say abolish the death penalty for all cases, including those on Death Row;

21 percent say abolish the death penalty only for future cases, not for current convicts.

A total of 37 percent of Connecticut voters say a legislator's death penalty vote will be
"extremely important" or "very important" to their vote in November's legislative elections, and
most of them are less likely to vote for a legislator who voted to abolish the death penalty.

"The death penalty is a complex issue for voters, and for pollsters," said Quinnipiac
University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD. "Connecticut voters want to keep the death
penalty, perhaps as an option for the most heinous crimes, such as the Cheshire murders."

"While they want to keep the death penalty on the books, voters are divided on whether
they prefer to sentence convicted murderers to death or life without parole. In fact, 74 percent
say a life or death sentence depends on the circumstances of the case," Dr. Schwartz added.

"A simple yes-no question on the death penalty suggests voters want it as an option.
Adding the life without parole option shows that voters are more lenient when it comes to
administering punishment."

Connecticut voters disapprove 49 - 32 percent of the job the State Legislature is doing,
compared to 50 - 35 percent disapproval in a March 21 Quinnipiac University survey, before the
death penalty repeal.

Voters disapprove 44 - 37 percent of the job Gov. Dannel Malloy is doing, compared to a
45 - 44 percent split March 21, Malloy's best score since he took office in January 2011.

Voters think 50 - 45 percent that small businesses will reduce the number of people they
hire if the minimum wage is increased. Women agree 51 - 43 percent while men are divided
49 - 48 percent. A higher minimum wage will mean less hiring, Republicans think 65 - 32
percent and independent voters think 51 - 43 percent. Democrats don't think there will be less
hiring 57 - 36 percent.

"Every group, except Republicans, supports increasing Connecticut's minimum wage. Although
all income groups support a higher minimum wage, support declines with income," said Dr. Schwartz.

From April 18 - 23, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,745 registered voters with a
margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New
Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and the nation as a public service and
for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201,
or follow us on Twitter.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling his job as Governor?

22. Which statement comes closest to your point of view?
(A) All persons convicted of murder should get the death penalty.
(B) No one convicted of murder should get the death penalty. OR
(C) Whether or not someone convicted of murder gets the death penalty should depend on the circumstances of the case.

TREND: Which statement comes closest to your point of view?
(A) All persons convicted of murder should get the death penalty.
(B) No one convicted of murder should get the death penalty.
(C) Whether or not someone convicted of murder gets the death penalty should depend on the circumstances of the case.

23. (Split Sample A) The state legislature has passed a bill to abolish the death penalty. Do you think abolishing the death penalty in Connecticut is a good idea or a bad idea? (* Subgroup size less than 75, additional caution should be taken when interpreting findings of this group because of the large margin of error)

TREND: The state legislature has passed a bill to abolish the death penalty. Do you think abolishing the death penalty in Connecticut is a good idea or a bad idea? (*Intro: "There is a proposal in the state legislature to abolish the death penalty")

Apr 25 Mar 21
2012 2012*
Good idea 34 31
Bad idea 60 62
DK/NA 6 7

24. (Split Sample B) The state legislature has passed a bill to abolish the death penalty and replace it with a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Do you think abolishing the death penalty in Connecticut and replacing it with a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole is a good idea or a bad idea? (* Subgroup size less than 75, additional caution should be taken when interpreting findings of this group because of the large margin of error)

25. The bill would abolish the death penalty only for future cases. Those who are currently on death row would still be executed. Which comes closest to your point of view; the death penalty should not be abolished, the death penalty should be abolished but only for future cases, OR the death penalty should be abolished for all cases including those already on death row?

26. State legislative elections are coming up in November. How important will the way your legislator voted on abolishing the death penalty be to your vote for state legislator in November; extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important?

29. (If support q28) Do you think that the minimum wage should be $9.25 an hour, should be less than $9.25 an hour, or should be more than $9.25 an hour? (* Subgroup size less than 75, additional caution should be taken when interpreting findings of this group because of the large margin of error)

29a. (COMBINED Q28 & Q29) Would you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in Connecticut, which is now $8.25 an hour? IF SUPPORT: Do you think that the minimum wage should be $9.25 an hour, should be less than $9.25 an hour, or should be more than $9.25 an hour?